Patents by Inventor Adam R. Abate
Adam R. Abate has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240150811Abstract: Microfluidic methods for barcoding nucleic acid target molecules to be analyzed, e.g., via nucleic acid sequencing techniques, are provided. Also provided are microfluidic, droplet-based methods of preparing nucleic acid barcodes for use in various barcoding applications. The methods described herein facilitate high-throughput sequencing of nucleic acid target molecules as well as single cell and single virus genomic, transcriptomic, and/or proteomic analysis/profiling. Systems and devices for practicing the subject methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2023Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Adam R. Abate, John R. Haliburton, Freeman Lan, Adam R. Sciambi
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Publication number: 20240042425Abstract: Provided is a method of generating droplets that includes aspirating a first liquid into a tube, positioning the tube over a receiving liquid, and ejecting the first liquid to generate a plurality of droplets that contact the receiving liquid and remain discrete even after contacting the receiving liquid. Whereas many other droplet generators require complex microfluidics, the present methods allow generation of droplets without the need for microfluidics. The methods can be performed with existing commercially available macro-fluidic liquid handling devices. The methods can be used for digital PCR, digital MDA, enzyme screening, single cell analysis, and other applications involving droplets.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2021Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Adam R. Abate, Jesse Qiuxu Zhang, Leqian Liu, Cyrille L. Delley, Russell Cole, Christian Siltanen
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Patent number: 11891666Abstract: Methods for the detection of components from biological samples are provided. In certain aspects, the methods may be used to detect and/or quantify specific components in a biological sample, such as tumor cells (e.g., circulating tumor cells). Systems and devices for practicing the subject methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2021Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Adam R. Abate, Dennis Jay Eastburn, Adam R. Sciambi
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Publication number: 20230302420Abstract: Parallel uses of microfluidic methods and devices for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid are described. In some aspects, the present invention relates generally to flow-focusing-type technology, and also to microfluidics, and more particularly parallel use of microfluidic systems arranged to control a dispersed phase within a dispersant, and the size, and size distribution, of a dispersed phase in a multi-phase fluid system, and systems for delivery of fluid components to multiple such devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2022Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: David A. Weitz, Mark Romanowsky, Adam R. Abate
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Patent number: 11732287Abstract: Microfluidic methods for barcoding nucleic acid target molecules to be analyzed, e.g., via nucleic acid sequencing techniques, are provided. Also provided are microfluidic, droplet-based methods of preparing nucleic acid barcodes for use in various barcoding applications. The methods described herein facilitate high-throughput sequencing of nucleic acid target molecules as well as single cell and single virus genomic, transcriptomic, and/or proteomic analysis/profiling. Systems and devices for practicing the subject methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Adam R. Abate, John R. Haliburton, Freeman Lan, Adam R. Sciambi
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Patent number: 11724237Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for the control of fluids and, in some cases, to systems and methods for flowing a fluid into and/or out of other fluids. As examples, fluid may be injected into a droplet contained within a fluidic channel, or a fluid may be injected into a fluidic channel to create a droplet. In some embodiments, electrodes may be used to apply an electric field to one or more fluidic channels, e.g., proximate an intersection of at least two fluidic channels. For instance, a first fluid may be urged into and/or out of a second fluid, facilitated by the electric field. The electric field, in some cases, may disrupt an interface between a first fluid and at least one other fluid. Properties such as the volume, flow rate, etc.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: David A. Weitz, Adam R. Abate, Tony Hung, Pascaline Mary
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Publication number: 20230227901Abstract: Methods for selectively adding one or more reagents are provided. In certain aspects, the methods include selectively merging one or more droplets of a plurality of droplets with one or more droplets of a plurality of reagent droplets based on detection of a property. Systems, devices and kits for practicing the subject methods are also provided. The subject disclosure may find use in a wide variety of applications, such as increasing the accuracy and/or efficiency of single-cell sequencing, detection of cancer or other diseases, monitoring disease progression, analyzing the DNA or RNA content of cells, and other applications in which it is desired to detect and/or quantify specific target cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2021Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Adam R. Abate, Iain Clark, Peng Xu, Cyrus Modavi
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Publication number: 20230212646Abstract: Provided is a method including encapsulating a biological material in a droplet having a volume of 500 nl or less, depositing the droplet to an addressable location of a substrate, and performing mass spectroscopy on the droplet. The method can further include conducting omic analysis on the droplet, such as sequencing DNA or analyzing mRNA, after the mass spectroscopy. In some cases, the method can be used to screen thousands of genetically different cells to identify correlations between genetics and the production of a metabolite, wherein the metabolite is detected by mass spectroscopy. Also provided is a system for performing the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2021Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: Adam R. Abate, Linfeng Xu, Leqian Liu, Kai-chun Chang
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Publication number: 20230109667Abstract: The methods described herein, referred to as PCR-Activated Sorting (PAS), allow nucleic acids contained in biological systems to be sorted based on their sequence as detected with nucleic acid amplification techniques, e.g., PCR. The nucleic acids can be free floating or contained within living or nonliving structures, including particles, viruses, and cells. The nucleic acids can include, e.g., DNA or RNA. Systems and devices for use in practicing methods of the invention are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: Adam R. Abate, Dennis Jay Eastburn, Adam R. Sciambi, Shaun Lim
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Publication number: 20230053160Abstract: Methods for on-demand printing discrete entities including, e.g., cells, media or reagents to substrates are provided. In certain aspects, the methods include manipulating qualities of the entities or biological components thereof. In some embodiments, the methods may be used to create arrays of microenvironments and/or for two and three-dimensional printing of tissues or structures and/or for in situ printing for microsurgeries. Systems and devices for practicing the subject methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2020Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Adam R. Abate, Pengfei Zhang, Russell Cole
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Patent number: 11517864Abstract: Parallel uses of microfluidic methods and devices for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid are described. In some aspects, the present invention relates generally to flow-focusing-type technology, and also to microfluidics, and more particularly parallel use of microfluidic systems arranged to control a dispersed phase within a dispersant, and the size, and size distribution, of a dispersed phase in a multi-phase fluid system, and systems for delivery of fluid components to multiple such devices.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: David A. Weitz, Mark Romanowsky, Adam R. Abate
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Publication number: 20220331804Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and techniques for manipulating fluids and/or making droplets. In certain aspects, the present invention generally relates to droplet production. The droplets may be formed from fluids from different sources. In one set of embodiments, the present invention is directed to a microfluidic device comprising a plurality of droplet-making units, and/or other fluidic units, which may be substantially identical in some cases. Substantially each of the fluidic units may be in fluidic communication with a different source of a first fluid and a common source of a second fluid, in certain embodiments. In one aspect, substantially the same pressure may be applied to substantially all of the different sources of fluid, which may be used to cause fluid to move from the different sources into the microfluidic device. In some cases, the fluids may interact within the fluidic units, e.g., by reacting, or for the production of droplets within the microfluidic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: David A. Weitz, Ralph Alexander Sperling, Adam R. Abate
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Publication number: 20220275427Abstract: The methods described herein, referred to as PCR-Activated Sorting (PAS), allow nucleic acids contained in biological systems to be sorted based on their sequence as detected with nucleic acid amplification techniques, e.g., PCR. The nucleic acids can be free floating or contained within living or nonliving structures, including particles, viruses, and cells. The nucleic acids can include, e.g., DNA or RNA. Systems and devices for use in practicing methods of the invention are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2022Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Adam R. Abate, Dennis Jay Eastburn, Adam R. Sciambi, Shaun Lim
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Publication number: 20220274072Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for the control of fluids and, in some cases, to systems and methods for flowing a fluid into and/or out of other fluids. As examples, fluid may be injected into a droplet contained within a fluidic channel, or a fluid may be injected into a fluidic channel to create a droplet. In some embodiments, electrodes may be used to apply an electric field to one or more fluidic channels, e.g., proximate an intersection of at least two fluidic channels. For instance, a first fluid may be urged into and/or out of a second fluid, facilitated by the electric field. The electric field, in some cases, may disrupt an interface between a first fluid and at least one other fluid. Properties such as the volume, flow rate, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2022Publication date: September 1, 2022Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: David A. Weitz, Adam R. Abate, Tony Hung, Pascaline Mary
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Patent number: 11389800Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and techniques for manipulating fluids and/or making droplets. In certain aspects, the present invention generally relates to droplet production. The droplets may be formed from fluids from different sources. In one set of embodiments, the present invention is directed to a microfluidic device comprising a plurality of droplet-making units, and/or other fluidic units, which may be substantially identical in some cases. Substantially each of the fluidic units may be in fluidic communication with a different source of a first fluid and a common source of a second fluid, in certain embodiments. In one aspect, substantially the same pressure may be applied to substantially all of the different sources of fluid, which may be used to cause fluid to move from the different sources into the microfluidic device. In some cases, the fluids may interact within the fluidic units, e.g., by reacting, or for the production of droplets within the microfluidic device.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: Ralph Alexander Sperling, Adam R. Abate, David A. Weitz
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Publication number: 20220219171Abstract: Methods for selectively combining discrete entities including, e.g. cells, reagents, drugs, hydrogels, extracellular matrices beads, particles, biological materials, media, or a combination thereof, are provided. In certain aspects, the methods include sorting a plurality of discrete entities and trapping two or more discrete entities for a time sufficient for the two or more discrete entities to combine to form a combined discrete entity. In certain aspects, the methods include making the plurality of discrete entities. In certain aspects, the methods include detecting or analyzing the discrete entities, e.g. via optical detection. In certain aspects, the methods include manipulating or analyzing the combined discrete entity or a component therein, e.g. imaging, sequencing, culturing, e.g., three-dimensional culturing, and measuring cell-cell interactions. Systems and devices for practicing the subject methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2020Publication date: July 14, 2022Inventors: Christian Siltanen, Russell Cole, Adam R. Abate, Justin Madrigal, Maithreyan Srinivasan
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Publication number: 20220212194Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to the control and manipulation of fluidic species, for example, in microfluidic systems. In one set of embodiments, droplets may be sorted using surface acoustic waves. The droplets may contain cells or other species. In some cases, the surface acoustic waves may be created using a surface acoustic wave generator such as an interdigitated transducer, and/or a material such as a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate may be isolated front the microfluidic substrate except at or proximate the location where the droplets arc sorted, e.g., into first or second microfluidic channels. At such locations, the microfluidic substrate may be coupled to the piezoelectric substrate (or other material) by one or more coupling regions. In some cases, relatively high sorting rates may be achieved, e.g., at rates of at least about 1,000 Hz, at least about 10,000 Hz, or at least about 100,000 Hz, and in some embodiments, with high cell viability after sorting.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2021Publication date: July 7, 2022Applicants: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Universität AugsburgInventors: David A. Weitz, Thomas Franke, Achim Wixforth, Lothar Schmid, Jeremy Agresti, Adam R. Abate
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Patent number: 11358105Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for the control of fluids and, in some cases, to systems and methods for flowing a fluid into and/or out of other fluids. As examples, fluid may be injected into a droplet contained within a fluidic channel, or a fluid may be injected into a fluidic channel to create a droplet. In some embodiments, electrodes may be used to apply an electric field to one or more fluidic channels, e.g., proximate an intersection of at least two fluidic channels. For instance, a first fluid may be urged into and/or out of a second fluid, facilitated by the electric field. The electric field, in some cases, may disrupt an interface between a first fluid and at least one other fluid. Properties such as the volume, flow rate, etc.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2021Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: David A. Weitz, Adam R. Abate, Tony Hung, Pascaline Mary
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Publication number: 20220154248Abstract: The methods and systems described herein provide an improved emulsion droplet based nucleic acid amplification method, which allows nucleic acids contained in biological systems to be detected, quantitated and/or sorted based on their sequence as detected with nucleic acid amplification techniques, e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The nucleic acids can be free floating or contained within living or nonliving structures, including particles, viruses, and cells. The nucleic acids can include, e.g., DNA or RNA.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2021Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventors: Adam R. Abate, David Sukovich
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Patent number: 11312990Abstract: The methods described herein, referred to as PCR-Activated Sorting (PAS), allow nucleic acids contained in biological systems to be sorted based on their sequence as detected with nucleic acid amplification techniques, e.g., PCR. The nucleic acids can be free floating or contained within living or nonliving structures, including particles, viruses, and cells. The nucleic acids can include, e.g., DNA or RNA. Systems and devices for use in practicing methods of the invention are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Adam R. Abate, Dennis Jay Eastburn, Adam R. Sciambi, Shaun Lim